Local zoning · Fortuna

Fortuna — Landscaping and Screening

Q: Do I need a landscape plan for a small addition to my house in Fortuna?

Possibly — § 17.05.110 allows the zoning administrator or planning commission to require a landscape and screening plan for additions or enlargements; the city will decide on a case-by-case basis whether the addition triggers a required plan .

Q: What is the minimum tree size I must plant for required trees?

Trees required by the ordinance must be a minimum of five gallons at planting as specified in § 17.05.110 ; the approving body can require a different species, maturity, or spacing where appropriate .

Q: Are gates in my new fence allowed to swing outward into the public sidewalk?

No — § 17.05.110 requires that gates or doors in fences, walls, or hedges that are located within 3 ft of a street or public walk must open inward (to avoid encroaching on sidewalks/public walks) .

Q: Do schools have special screening rules for playgrounds?

Yes — schools must maintain an opaque fence or wall not less than 6 ft high around any play area that abuts a residential district under § 17.06.182 .

Landscaping and Screening under the Fortuna local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Fortuna zoning ordinance (Title 17) requires for landscaping and screening: when a landscape/screening plan is required, what a plan must show, minimum plant and fence standards, parking-lot planting and screening rules, and where special rules apply (schools, service stations, RV/mobile-home parks, etc.). The primary controlling standard is § 17.05.110 (Landscaping and screening) in the Fortuna Zoning Code; other zone-specific sections require landscaped front yards or numeric area minimums in certain districts. See the city's zoning map and district pages for parcel-specific rules: Fortuna Zoning & planning overview and Fortuna Zoning. (/us/california/fortuna and /us/california/fortuna/zoning)

Key first-step links (appear at first natural mention below):

Fortuna Parking (/us/california/fortuna/parking)
Fortuna Design Review (/us/california/fortuna/design-review)
Fortuna Overlay Districts (/us/california/fortuna/overlay-districts)
Fortuna Development Standards (/us/california/fortuna/development-standards)
Fortuna ADUs (/us/california/fortuna/adu)
California Building Standards Code (/us/california/building-codes)

All requirements below are stated in plain English and tied to the local code text; direct quotations are avoided — see the Source References for the controlling § citations.

Controlling standards (quick synthesis)

A landscape and screening plan is required for new development where the title requires it; the zoning administrator or planning commission can also require plans for building additions (§ 17.05.110) .
A plan must show locations of lawns, groundcover, shrub masses, existing/proposed trees, and include a planting schedule and sizes; each plant must be shown to anticipated mature spread (§ 17.05.110) .
Trees required by code must be at least five gallons in size at planting (§ 17.05.110) .
Dense landscaping, an opaque wall, or a solid fence of at least 6 ft is required to screen nonresidential uses that abut residential uses and other specified situations (§ 17.05.110) .
Gates within three feet of a street or public walk must open inward (§ 17.05.110) .
Parking-lot planting/screening: a landscaped strip of at least 5 ft is required where a lot is within 20 ft of a street; one tree per eight parking spaces (and at least one tree for parking areas of five or more spaces); screening between parking and adjacent residential uses is generally 6 ft (with a lower 2.5–3.5 ft exception for the first 20 ft along side property lines measured from the street) (§ 17.05.110) .
Off-street loading areas adjacent to a street or front yard, or across an alley from residential, must be screened by a solid wall/fence or evergreen hedge no less than 4 ft tall and irrigated (§ 17.05.110) .
Many zone sections require that required front yards be landscaped “as prescribed in § 17.05.110” (for example R-C, N-C, and R‑zone rules) .

The ordinance’s full landscaping/screening standard is at § 17.05.110 .

District-by-district breakdown

Below are Fortuna-specific district subsections where the code either prescribes landscaping directly or points to § 17.05.110. Each district entry gives the district name (bold), purpose, typical permitted uses (short), key dimensional/landscape rules, and where that rule appears in the code.

R-M (Multifamily / Residential-Medium) — § 17.03.012

Purpose: accommodate multifamily housing and associated uses; implement multifamily design and open-space standards. Principal uses include multifamily dwellings, mobile home parks, supportive housing, and certain public/quasi-public uses. Key dimensional standards: minimum open space percent and yard requirements are set in the RM rules; multifamily projects must provide at least 40% open space for multifamily developments unless modified by the planning commission (§ 17.03.012(G) and related) .
Landscaping rules: at least 20% of the lot must be landscaped and screened for new subdivisions or larger lots, as prescribed in § 17.05.110; required common parking and open areas must be screened/landscaped per § 17.05.110 .

N-C (Neighborhood Commercial) — § 17.03.020

Purpose: convenience retail and services targeted to nearby neighborhoods. Typical uses: small food stores, professional offices, restaurants under size limits, personal services, etc. Landscaping rules: the district requires that front-yard portions not used for access be landscaped “as prescribed in § 17.05.110”; design review and site-plan review may add conditions for screening where adjoining residential uses exist (§ 17.03.020; see § 17.05.110) .

R-C (Retail Commercial) — § 17.03.021

Purpose: downtown retail center and more intensive commercial uses. Typical uses: retail, offices, services, and downtown-supporting uses. Dimensional limits: lot area, setbacks and heights are set in the R‑C table; front yards not used for access must be landscaped per § 17.05.110. Parking-lot and loading-area screening requirements of § 17.05.110 apply to R‑C projects that have parking or loading areas (§ 17.03.021; § 17.05.110) .

Service stations / Conditional uses (special rules) — § 17.06.184

Service stations (when conditional) must provide planter areas equal to at least 5% of gross site area, must conform to § 17.05.110 for screening to adjacent residences, and provide fences/walls as necessary adjacent to residential property lines (§ 17.06.184(B)(4–5)) .

Schools — § 17.06.182

Where school play areas abut residential districts, schools must maintain an opaque fence or wall not less than 6 ft high around play areas (§ 17.06.182) .

Mobile-home / RV parks — (multiple places; see RV/mobile‑home park provisions)

Mobile home and RV park rules require that areas not covered by structures or pavement be landscaped per § 17.05.110; perimeter screening by a wall, vegetation, or other approved material may be required, and where adjacent to residential districts a wall at least 6 ft plus a landscaped strip 10 ft wide may be required (§ 17.06.170/park rules; see § 17.05.110) .

Design Review Combining Zone (D) — § 17.04.030

The -D combining zone is explicitly used where the city wants to control building appearance AND landscaping; properties with a D combining zone are subject to design review and must comply with requirements such as detailed landscape plans, irrigation, maintenance and materials consistent with § 17.05.110 and the design-review chapter (§ 17.04.030; § 17.07) .

R-1 and other R zones — (references in code; see § 17.06.020 and various R-zone tables)

The code repeatedly requires that required front yards in R-zones be landscaped per § 17.05.110 and lists R-1 among zones where certain uses (e.g., child care) are permitted; specific R‑zone dimensional tables and rules appear throughout Chapter 17.03 and Chapter 17.06 (see § 17.06.020 applicability and residential yard tables) . If you need the R‑1 subsection text for a specific parcel, verify with the zoning map and the full Title 17 text.

Note: For any district not explicitly summarized above, the general requirements in § 17.05.110 apply where the district text cross-references it; many zone sections simply require front-yard landscaping in accordance with § 17.05.110 (see district provisions) .

Quick standards table (decision‑relevant)

Topic	Standard / Requirement	Code reference
Landscape plan required for new development (and sometimes additions)	Landscape & screening plan required when title requires; the ZA/PC may require it for enlargements	§ 17.05.110
Minimum tree size at planting	5-gallon minimum for required trees	§ 17.05.110
Screening between non-residential and residential	Dense landscaping or solid wall/fence ≥ 6 ft (exception: side-line first 20 ft may be 2.5–3.5 ft)	§ 17.05.110
Parking lot perimeter strip (if within 20 ft of street)	Landscaped strip ≥ 5 ft wide + visually solid fence/hedge 3 ft on street side of strip	§ 17.05.110
Parking-lot tree requirement	1 tree per 8 parking spaces (at least one tree where 5+ spaces)	§ 17.05.110
Off-street loading screening	Solid wall/fence or vine-covered fence or compact evergreen hedge ≥ 4 ft + irrigation	§ 17.05.110
Gates near public walk/streets	Gates/doors in fences or hedges within 3 ft of street/public walk must open inward	§ 17.05.110
Per‑district landscaped area (multifamily/subdivisions)	Example: RM subdivisions/larger lots — ≥ 20% landscaped & screened (see district text)	§ 17.03.012 / § 17.05.110

Checklist (what an applicant must submit / satisfy)

Prepare a scaled landscape and screening plan showing lawn, groundcover, shrub masses, existing/proposed trees and planting schedule with species and spacing as required by § 17.05.110 .
Show each plant at its anticipated mature diameter and identify tree sizes (minimum 5‑gallon where required) (§ 17.05.110) .
If project includes parking, show parking-lot landscaping: tree wells, number of trees ( 1 per 8 spaces), planter curbs, and any 5‑ft street-strip and 3‑ft hedge/fence (§ 17.05.110) .
If adjacent to residential uses, provide screening detail (6‑ft wall/hedge or equivalent dense landscaping; note 20‑ft side-line exception) (§ 17.05.110) .
For loading/service areas adjacent to streets or residential, show a 4‑ft screening hedge/wall with irrigation (§ 17.05.110) .
If property is in a -D design review area, submit materials, elevations, irrigation/maintenance plan and comply with design-review procedures before permits (§ 17.04.030; § 17.07) .
For service stations, show planter areas of at least 5% of gross site and fences screening adjacent residential property lines (§ 17.06.184) .
Verify any tree removal follows the California Forest Practices Act and applicable local tree/removal rules; some tree removal may require a use permit (§ 17.06.171) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Tree removal rules not in the landscape plan	Removing protected or large trees can trigger state/local permits or a use permit	Check § 17.06.171 and consult the city and Humboldt County if the Forest Practices Act applies; verify tree-removal permit requirements
Parcel-specific landscaped area (percent)	Some zones (RM, subdivisions) set numeric % (e.g., 20%); older small lots may be treated differently	Verify whether your lot is a post‑1990 subdivision or a pre‑1990 lot and check the district text (e.g., RM rules) and consult the zoning administrator (§ 17.03.012; § 17.05.110)
Where fence structural members may show	Code requires structural members not be visible from a public street; simple fences may violate that	Confirm fence design and materials with the zoning administrator; cite § 17.05.110(C)(2) for the visibility rule
Overlap with Design Review (-D) or other overlays	Design review can add conditions or require different plant palettes/materials	If your property is in a -D or other combining zone, confirm design-review triggers and submittal requirements (/us/california/fortuna/design-review) and § 17.04.030
Fire-safety landscaping limits (WUI or setback conflicts)	Wildland-Urban Interface rules and defensible-space requirements may limit dense plantings near structures	Verify local fire authority requirements and any WUI controls (not fully specified in Title 17); see California Wildland-Urban Interface Code if applicable — local verification required
ADU or accessory-structure site constraints	ADU placement and setbacks are covered elsewhere; landscaping requirements may still apply	Check Fortuna ADUs (/us/california/fortuna/adu) and confirm whether design review or landscape plans are required for ADUs — parcel-specific; verify with the zoning administrator. (Not found in retrieved Title 17 text for ADU‑specific landscaping)

Plain-English summary

If you build or expand in Fortuna you'll probably need a landscape and screening plan showing where trees, shrubs, and lawns go; trees should be planted at a minimum 5‑gallon size, parking areas must include trees and perimeter planting, and non‑residential uses next to homes must be screened with dense plantings or a 6‑ft wall/fence — all established in § 17.05.110 and echoed in zone chapters (§ 17.03.x and project-specific sections) .

Source References

Fortuna Zoning Code — § 17.05.110. Landscaping and screening.
Fortuna Zoning Code — § 17.03.020. Neighborhood commercial (N‑C) (landscaping cross-reference)
Fortuna Zoning Code — § 17.03.021. Retail commercial (R‑C) (landscaping cross-reference)
Fortuna Zoning Code — Parking-lot planting and screening standards (part of § 17.05.110 / related excerpts)
Fortuna Zoning Code — § 17.06.184. Service stations (site development, planter-area minimum)
Fortuna Zoning Code — § 17.06.182. Schools (6‑ft opaque fence for play areas abutting residential)
Fortuna Zoning Code — § 17.04.030. Design review combining zone (D) (design review applies to landscaping in D areas)
Fortuna Zoning Code — RM zone open-space and landscaping cross-references (e.g., § 17.03.012(G))
California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (reference for fire-safety landscaping considerations; local application must be verified)

Sources

Retrieved passages

Fortuna Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
Fortuna Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
Fortuna Zoning Code (title listed) High relevance
CBC § 000 (title of) High relevance
Fortuna Zoning Code (section shall) High relevance
Fortuna Zoning Code High relevance
Fortuna Zoning Code (chapter prior) High relevance
Fortuna Zoning Code (section elevation) High relevance
Fortuna Zoning Code (section elevation.) High relevance
Fortuna Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
Fortuna Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance

Cited sections

Official Fortuna code library

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a landscape plan for a small addition to my house in Fortuna?

Possibly — § 17.05.110 allows the zoning administrator or planning commission to require a landscape and screening plan for additions or enlargements; the city will decide on a case-by-case basis whether the addition triggers a required plan .

What is the minimum tree size I must plant for required trees?

Trees required by the ordinance must be a minimum of five gallons at planting as specified in § 17.05.110; the approving body can require a different species, maturity, or spacing where appropriate .

How tall must my fence be to screen a commercial property that borders a residential lot?

The code requires dense landscaping or a solid wall/fence of at least 6 ft where a nonresidential use abuts a residential use, with a specific lower height exception of 2.5–3.5 ft on the side property line for the first 20 ft measured from the street right-of-way (§ 17.05.110) .

What landscaping is required for parking lots in Fortuna?

All off-street parking areas with four or more spaces must meet the parking‑lot landscaping/screening rules in § 17.05.110, including a 5‑ft landscaped strip where lots are within 20 ft of a street, a 3‑ft visually solid fence/hedge positioned on the street side of that strip, and one tree per eight spaces (or at least one tree for 5+ spaces) .

If my property is in a Design Review (-D) area, does landscaping get reviewed?

Yes — properties with the -D combining zone are subject to design review and the design-review procedures require submission of landscaping, irrigation and maintenance details; see § 17.04.030 and the design-review chapter (§ 17.07) for submittal and findings .

Are gates in my new fence allowed to swing outward into the public sidewalk?

No — § 17.05.110 requires that gates or doors in fences, walls, or hedges that are located within 3 ft of a street or public walk must open inward (to avoid encroaching on sidewalks/public walks) .

Do schools have special screening rules for playgrounds?

Yes — schools must maintain an opaque fence or wall not less than 6 ft high around any play area that abuts a residential district under § 17.06.182 .

My project needs a loading area next to the street — what must I plant or build?

If a loading area is adjacent to a street or required front yard, or directly across an alley from a residential district, you must provide a solid wall or fence, vine-covered fence, or compact evergreen hedge no less than 4 ft in height, with irrigation and evergreen shrub planting per § 17.05.110 .

Is there a required percent of landscaping for multifamily developments?

Yes — for multifamily developments in the RM district, the code says at least 40% of a lot shall be open space for multifamily developments (with some exceptions and the planning commission can modify this for other RM uses); in addition, certain subdivisions/larger lots must provide at least 20% landscaped and screened area as cross-referenced to § 17.05.110 (verify by parcel) .

Can landscape/screening requirements conflict with fire-defensible-space rules?

They can — dense plantings next to structures may conflict with defensible-space or WUI rules; Title 17 does not substitute for fire authority requirements. Verify with the local fire authority and reference applicable California WUI/local fire regulations (local verification required) — the Wildland‑Urban Interface Code is a helpful reference but local application must be confirmed . ---

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